As I started into the work force I learned quickly everything is a negotiation.  Everyone wants something and nothing is for free... or is it?  I know it’s free when it comes from the right place for the right reasons.

 

The last time I was here in Mosul I bought the guys a Barbecue grill and steaks.  It meant something to all of them, but uniformly it was a piece of home to everyone.

 

So before I came back on this trip I wanted to bring a little bit of that back with me.  This time for all of the members of Apache Company.   All one hundred sixty four members.

 

It took some doing but I was able to find a company U.S. Wellness to ship the meat I wanted...  thank you John.  But now I need to pay for it... this was not a conversation I was willing to try with Monica.

 

“Wants and Needs”... “If you understand what the other sides needs to make a deal... not what they want you will probable make the deal”.

 

I thought and I thought how can I come up with all that money to buy and ship more than a one hundred and sixty pounds of custom beef to Iraq?  So I called my friends Dave Jane and Tony Lewis at my local National Exchange Club in Fontana Ca.  They were both very excited to pursue the idea of giving the Soldiers in Iraq a home style barbeque.  They said yes right off the bat but I would still need to get an OK from the National office.  So I called Michelle to tell her all about my crazy little idea...  That took all of about an hour before she called me back to tell me that the National Office of the National Exchange Club would fund the entire ticket, only asking for one thing.  To allow their members to send personal letters to the soldiers with the package.

 

When it comes from the heart for the right reasons it is always free... the best kind of freedom.  You see there was no negotiation, the was no back and fourth.  Just people following there heart, doing what they know is right for all of the right reasons.  And for that I want to thank each and every member of the National Exchange Club across America for what you did and all that you continue to do for your communities.

 

The National Exchange Club is a nationwide group of Americans who have an enduring love for their fellow Americans who serve in our Armed Forces around the World.  So there you have it.  Something for nothing.  Go figure in this day and age.

 

 

 

One last thing.  The look on these guys faces when they saw the size of the steaks they were just blown away.  But more amazing was the surprise when they learned that people they didn’t even know had sent them these steaks.  Most of them not know how to respond.  One thing they did do was read all the letters they were sent.

 

Thank you to everyone that helped to make this possible.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael, Monica and the boys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a look at the trailer for the TV series and you will understand why this was important.  Click on the link below and go to Alpha Company.